NWU’s BCom Honours in International Trade: Shaping South Africa’s Trade Leaders
North-West University (NWU) continues to lead in International Trade education with its dedicated BCom Honours in International Trade programme. The programme equips students to navigate the global trade environment, understand the World Trade Organization (WTO), and analyse complex trade flows and policy impacts.
Key modules include International Trade Policy Analysis, International Marketing Strategy, Research Methods, International Logistics, Applied Macroeconomics, and Export Administration. Students also complete an independent research project, often building on NWU’s own trade research, covering topics such as African Trade Policy, Regional Integration, Digital Trade, Export Promotion, and the effects of global events like COVID-19, Brexit, and Trade Wars.
With strong analytical, practical, and research training, the Honours programme prepares graduates to critically assess global markets, firm competitiveness, and policy decisions, producing South Africa’s next generation of trade experts. One of the highlights of this Honours programme is Prof Henri Bezuidenhout’s module on International Trade Policy, which equips students with an understanding of the latest changes in the international trading environment. The module covers a wide range of topics, including:
Worldviews & Trade Paradigms
Political Ecology, Sustainability & Trade
The International Trade Policy Landscape
Trade Instruments & Mechanisms
Trade Controversies & Trade Wars
Regional Integration & Multilateral Trade Systems
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) & The International Firm
Global Value Chains (GVCs) & Network Economics
International Risk & Crisis Management in Trade
Trade, Technology & The Digital Economy
Through this course, students gain both theoretical and practical insights into how trade policies are shaped, implemented, and impacted by global developments, preparing them to analyse and respond to contemporary international trade challenges.
